Friday, November 30, 2012

My 'what makes me happy' to-do list.

Hello day before summer and very last day of November!!

What a crazy time of year you are.

I don't know about you, but I'm finding my days are disappearing in a sea of pick ups and drop offs, final this and preparing for that, make lots of this and rehearse for that. There's costumes and projects, and food shares and transitions and meetings and excursions and parties and inspections and reports and dead-lines and concerts and dances and assemblies...and there are three, tired, fragile children.

Yesterday I drove in and out of town nine times!!!!

And so being the disorganised person that I am, I've often found myself feeling like I am drowning. Overwhelmed and out of control. And that all the stuff I love doing, the stuff that makes me-me, gets stuck right down the bottom of the list.

So this morning, when I stepped back into my house after the first drop off of the day, and I contemplated the mess that needed sorting out and the list of housey chores that needed attending to, I decided to make myself a what makes me happy to-do list.

On that list I wrote things that I love doing, but that aren't exactly priorities. My happy stuff. The stuff that makes me feel passionate and inspires me.

I'm hoping that having this list will keep me more focused and motivated and on task. If I hang and fold all the laundry, then maybe I can do something for a little while that I love, like crochet a coaster or plant out some of the basil.

Like make a new type of bread or sew a dress.

Like thin out the lettuces or sew some bunting.

Like soaking and blocking my just cast off cardigan.

Like taking photos and writing a blog...

And you know what? It might seem small but for now I feel like writing that list has made all the difference to my day. I feel like the shoulds will be more doable if there are some loves in amongst them.

Oh after a bit of contemplation, I just deleted all the games off my phone too. I reckon I could have crocheted an entire blanket in the time I've been wasting lately.

OK here I go, off to tackle the kitchen with my rewards well in sight.

I hope you have the most fabulous weekend.

But before you go, I'd love to know a few of the things that would make it onto your what makes me happy to-do list.

41 comments:

Kate I hear exactly what you are saying, it's a crazy time. I do like your idea of writing a list of what make you happy, to help you breathe a little and balance out the craziness with something that helps keep you calm. On my list it would have to be some crochet, a bit of time sewing for me and some fun baking you know just to make something new for no reason. Enjoy doing some of those happy things today. xx

Perfect idea! Mine is also something yarny, something fabricky, something dirty (ahem . . gardening!) and something sweet-smelling-promise-of-yumminess (baking). This post is full of happiness! Such a half-full look at housework balancing with hobbies. Hope it pans out with all the goodness you desire. xxx Fi

I like this idea. Sewing some clothing for me, a few christmas decorations, some writing in my garden journal, all things that would be on my happy to do list right now. I often use that reward system in my head at home. I do some of the not so good stuff and then reward myself with something a little more fun. It brightens the day.

Great idea! A nice long walk, fabric shopping, cooking and talking to my mum on the phone (she lives far away), these are the things that make me happy. Days are running away from me too and with so much to do, it is good to make sure that there is some unwind and slow down time:) Have a lovely day! Katia (Plushka)

great idea, sometimes it's too easy to get bogged down in all those should-do's and forget to include some makes me happy just because stuff...mine would be riding my bike, yoga, meditation, looking for and finding my baking mojo, reading, knitting, crocheting walk and talk with my bestie.

I think I might work on a list like this in my lunch break today! All morning I mooched around, thinking about all of the not-fun housework stuff that needed to be done, for both this morning and on the weekend, this list might be the thing to get me nice and motivated to get it done instead of procrastinating and wasting time!Fabulous idea!!Have a great weekend!!!Xo

i love the idea of a "what makes me happy" to do list. normal ones are so drab and boring! I've just dropped my daughter off a kinder and instead of doing the chores first I thought I would just take 30 mintues to myself and relax and do a bit a sewing!! Kudos for deleting the games...that was like me and tv...no tv for me and i've got heaps more time. happy weekend x

I looked at the shambles that is my lounge room and the pile of dishes waiting for me and came to sit at the computer instead! But I haven't been entirely lazy, I spent the morning doing work that needed to be done and now can pick and choose, next task put a chook in the oven for dinner and get some vegies prepared. Early I know but the earlier I get it ready, the less chance there is of the kids staying up half the night!xXx Helen

We don't have kids (or a farm) so I have a bit more free time to play with. I'd love to learn how to crochet - I've tried to teach myself = fail. Perhaps in your spare time *cough cough* you can do a granny-square YouTube tutorial...for moi!

Hi Kate,After taking my daughter to school I stopped by my best friends house as her little boy was sick and she needed a bit of cheering up. Then I came home and after looking at all the housework layed on the lounge and read my new book all day. It's 38 degrees here today and that's all I felt like doing. So I did. And you know what, I feel good. I feel rested and ready for the weekend.

Getting all my ironing done would make me happy. I should iron whilst I watch something on tv. I always have the washing up to date but then I take it off the line and it sits there waiting to be folded which doesnt take much time but the ironing, ugh! Your red cardigan is looking very pretty Kate. I think you will have to keep a project bag in the car so when you have some time in the car you can do it. I keep forgetting to pop mine in the car for pick up after school times. Hope you have a very happy December!

Love it Kate, this is a great way to get through the crappy jobs! My 'carrot' is always a little baking, playing in the vegetable garden or taking photos. Have a lovely weekend, I hope the fire danger has passed for now.

Aaah...the loves...with all the work to be done at this time of year and having just moved house my happy list would mostly include getting things ready so I can do fun stuff:setting up the sewing room so i can start creating beautiful things out of all the fabric i just bought at op shopspicking up the chairs i bought on trade me so i can sand and oil them (and we can have a real functioning dining table)unpicking the dress i bought to turn it into a skirtcreating a routine from the trapeze skills i've been learningre-covering my favourite comfy couch so i can read zines all day!x

Being in nature, reading, knitting, felting, crafting anything actually, cuddles, phoning my special sister friends, getting bodywork or giving myself a foot rub, bathing. Oh it goes on! My mentor got me to write a list recently of all the things I can do presently to help uplift me from depression do its all fresh in my mind and do important and the list is making a difference!

today so far... the first thing my daughter wanted to do was draw at the table, the weather is lovely here, we have a new kitten and I have some yarn project waiting for meOh and these pictures make me happy too!

My what makes me happy list includes: sitting down with a cuppa and reading a chapter of whatever book is on the go, a little blog love of course, watering my gardening, baking with my music on, a little hand stitching on whatever project I am working on.

That sounds like our life at the moment too....my happy things are making some candles, learning to dye some fabric,writing blog posts and reading . Great to reward ourselves after some of the must do things. xxx

I like your idea. For me, lately, what makes me happy is half an hour in the garden (especially sans kids!), even just to water the all the plants I have in pots this year.

Today, I hope to make time for some chopping salting and jarring of the last of our big lemon harvest (there're still lots on the tree, but we're over the huge flush now), which will also make me happy.

And right now I am happily sitting in a cafe drinking a coffee - Alone! - because I came into town for an 8am dentist appt, only to find I had the wrong day! Sort of a pain, but rather nice too :)

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